PM Modi chairs discussions on 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' program

PM Modi, after a successful informal bilateral with Chinese President Jinping, chaired a meeting to discuss his pet program 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' in Delhi on Saturday. As per this program, the government plans to hold people-to-people exchange between States to enhance knowledge about each other's culture. The PMO took to Twitter and explained about PM’s series of engagements after his return from Mahabalipuram. PM Modi is also scheduled to visit poll-bound Maharashtra for campaigning on Sunday. 

Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat 

'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31, 2015, on the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Subsequently, the late finance minister Arun Jaitley had announced the initiative in his Budget speech for 2016-17. The program aims to actively enhance interaction between people of diverse cultures living in different states and union territories in the country with the objective of promoting greater mutual understanding amongst them. As per the program, each year, every State and Union Territories would be paired with another set of state and UT for reciprocal interaction between the people.  

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Objectives of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ 

As per the official website of the scheme, the broad objectives of the initiative are:

• "To celebrate the Unity in Diversity of our Nation and to maintain and strengthen the fabric of traditionally existing emotional bonds between the people of our country."
• "To promote the spirit of national integration through a deep and structured engagement between all Indian States and Union Territories through a year-long planned engagement between States."
• "To showcase the rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions of either State for enabling people to understand and appreciate the diversity that is India, thus fostering a sense of common identity."
• "To establish long-term engagements."
• "To create an environment that promotes learning between the States by sharing best practices and experiences."

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(With PTI Inputs)